8 Things Parents Should Know About Video Games

Find out how to determine if a game is appropriate, which behaviors may signal trouble and more

You may not mind if your kid plays video games, but you are probably wondering if there's any harm in letting her log so much time with the game console. We consulted child psychologists and video game experts to get the facts on how you can help your child enjoy the benefits of video games while avoiding their potential pitfalls.

1. Games have ratings and consoles have parental controls. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) provides information about computer and video games, including a rating system with categories ranging from EC (Early Childhood) to AO (Adult Only). Cheryl K. Olson, ScD, faculty member of Harvard Medical School and author of Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do, recommends that parents bookmark the ESRB's "Resources" page, which links to instructions for the parental controls built in to all game systems and computers. The page also has "links to sites for your kids to get game information, links to game review sites for parents and a ratings app so parents can get more information about games while shopping."

2. But the ratings aren't the only thing to take into account… The ESRB info can be a helpful starting point, but also consider the unique characteristics of your child. "The age-based rating alone may not give parents enough information on whether a game is suitable for a particular teen," Dr. Olson says. Be sure to take note of a game's description in addition to its rating. The descriptions can include things like "Blood and Gore" and "Drug Reference." Dr. Olson also points out that "while parents often pay attention to descriptors about violence and gore, lyrics and language are also important because children are more likely to copy bad language (and get into trouble) than to copy fantasy violence against zombies or aliens." The most important thing to keep in mind is how certain aspects of a game may affect your child's social and school behavior. When in doubt, Dr. Olson suggests that parents rent the game first to see how your child reacts while playing it—or play it with them, if possible.

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3. Supervision is key. "The simplest thing a parent can do to manage children's media use is to get the game system, TV and computer out of the child's bedroom," advises Dr. Olson. If that's not practical, then "confiscate controllers before bedtime, and use parental controls to limit play time and access to mature-rated games." Dr. Olson's research showed that middle school–aged kids play games for more hours, and play more age-inappropriate games, when they're able to play unsupervised in their bedrooms. "But the most important reason to monitor them is that technology in the bedroom interferes with sleep, which strongly influences children's health and school success," she adds.

4. Household rules can apply to technology, too. According to Dr. Olson, "Some kids need more guidance than others; if your child consistently has trouble tearing himself away from an engrossing game to do homework, consider limiting or banning games on school nights, and let him game with friends on weekends." She also reminds parents to think of their own difficulty parting with technology, like smartphones and laptops, at night; don't expect your kids to have more self-control than you do.

5. Overuse can lead to attention problems. Research from the August 2010 issue of the journal Pediatrics found an association between children's TV and video game use and attention problems. Michael Wager, PhD, a psychologist in Thomasville, Georgia, notes that children and adolescents who have ADHD "often gain significant success experiences with video games and, their inattention to everything else around them, suggests an addiction. However, they are merely doing something fun that gives them the pleasure of a success experience—rather than the all-too-often negative feedback." Dr. Wager emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance in terms of game use, regardless of the reason for the child's focus on playing.

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6. Video game playing isn't necessarily linked to inactivity. Contrary to the common notion that kids' increased use of video games and other technology is contributing to rising obesity rates, a new study from Michigan State University published in the January 2011 issue of Computers in Human Behavior found that technology use was not a predictor of BMI or body weight. Of course, inactivity in general is associated with weight issues, so be sure to help your child balance screen time with physical activity. Luckily, she can do both at once by playing fitness-related games on the Nintendo Wii or the Xbox Kinect. In fact, a Kent State University study from May 2010, showed overweight and obese children were just as motivated to play the Wii as they were to play a sedentary video game.

7. Some kids opt for video games instead of social interaction. An Amsterdam study that also appeared in the January 2011 issue of Computers in Human Behavior found that some predictors of pathological gaming are issues with self-esteem and social competence, and that loneliness is both a predictor and a consequence of such gaming behavior. Be especially aware of potentially problematic gaming behavior in your child if he struggles in these areas. Set reasonable limits and seek help for him if he needs to improve social or emotional skills. Felissa Goldstein, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center of the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, advises parents to encourage kids to engage in two-player games, since "social isolation evolves from too much solo video game playing," she says.

8. There are games with hidden benefits. According to Dr. Goldstein, video games can help enhance learning, problem-solving skills, coordination and fine motor skills. In a recent Cleveland State University study, the main factors cited by children as motivation for playing video games were the challenge and thinking involved in the games. (The study also found that repetition is more often used in action games, while adventure games call more on kids' imaginations.) Unfortunately, the ESRB system doesn't provide information about the positive benefits of games, or which games enhance certain types of learning. "If you want to know, for example, which games sneak in a lot of reading (if your child's a reluctant reader) or require collaborating with others to solve problems (if your child might benefit from social skills practice), you may have to talk to other parents or make educated guesses from reviews," says Dr. Olson.

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